There are many preachers who preach grace as a means to receive blessings from God. Blessings in the form of success, wealth, health and prosperity. These preachers preach grace in an exaggerated way and even boldly claim that we no longer need to be conscious of our sins, we just need to know that God wants us to be successful, rich, healthy and prosperous. The biblical errors are sometimes so subtle that even the matured believers are deceived. This false grace doctrine may not imply that grace gives us the freedom to sin but it ignores the laws of God to preach a perverted gospel.
The bible clearly says that the grace of God teaches us to deny our sinful desires and live a life of godliness (Titus 2:11-12)
I am deeply convicted about understanding the truth. It is easy to acquire knowledge without understanding. We need to humbly come before God to ask him to show us the truth because only the truth can set us free (John 8:32). When we preach the gospel as a means to get "things" from God, we are still slaves to our sinful desires. God is not a means to an end, he is not a god that we can manipulate to get what we want.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so that we are no longer condemned but are now able to live with him! He did not die so that we can be wealthy, healthy and prosperous. He died so that we can be healed of our sins!
1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Many false doctrine claims that since we are now living under the new covenant of grace, we no longer need to teach the law and we do not need to obey and please God, because Jesus has already done all the work on the cross. Some even imply that God is no longer angry nor does he grieve when we sin. God's attitude towards sin has not changed (Mal 3:6, 2 Cor 7:1), he hates sin because sin leads to death and he desires us to obey him so that we can have life to eternal!
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so that we are no longer condemned but are now able to live with him! He did not die so that we can be wealthy, healthy and prosperous. He died so that we can be healed of our sins!
1 Peter 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Many false doctrine claims that since we are now living under the new covenant of grace, we no longer need to teach the law and we do not need to obey and please God, because Jesus has already done all the work on the cross. Some even imply that God is no longer angry nor does he grieve when we sin. God's attitude towards sin has not changed (Mal 3:6, 2 Cor 7:1), he hates sin because sin leads to death and he desires us to obey him so that we can have life to eternal!
In the book of Nehemiah, we clearly see that God was angry with the people of Israel because of their disobedience but he was gracious and loving towards them, he did not desert them. Instead, he used Nehemiah to help them rebuild the city. He also used Nehemiah to remind them about the laws of God and to teach them to obey the commandments. In chapter 8, as Ezra read the laws to the people, the people became convicted of their sins, they broke down and wept (v9). That is the beautiful works of the law of God, it shows us how terribly we have sinned, the conviction produces in our hearts a godly sorrow. In chapter 9, the Israelites confessed their sins and sins of their ancestors before God, they bind themselves to an agreement to follow God's commandments. This is a sign of transformation of their hearts. When we are convicted of our sins, we will have a desire turn away from our sinful ways to live a life in obedience to God. And that is only possible when we run to the throne of God to receive his grace, not trying to obey him in our own strength.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Now all has been heard;here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
The lord desires us to fear and obey him but we cannot do it on our own, that's why we need his grace. When our hearts desire to be obedient to him, we will enjoy a loving relationship with him. God used Nehemiah to warn the people about their rebellious ways and to urge them to keep his commandments. God's nature has not changed with the new covenant of grace, he hates sin and still grieves when we choose to disobey him. Jesus did not come to earth to abolish the laws, he came to fulfil them (Matt 5:17-20).
God's grace empowers us to obey him and to persevere in our faith. Let our eyes be fixed upon him and his righteousness (Matt 6:33). God does bless us with tangible rewards here on earth but those things are not our goals because our time here is temporal. When we understand God's love for us and his purposes for our lives, we will learn to trust him and be contented in all circumstances (Phil 4:11-13). When we seek to obey him and to do his will, we will be able to experience the fullness of God's blessings...beyond the wealth, health and prosperity.
So dear friends, do not be discouraged when you face struggles of the flesh, Jesus knows our difficulties and will supply us with abundant grace to overcome (Heb 4:15, Heb 2:18) !
God's grace empowers us to obey him and to persevere in our faith. Let our eyes be fixed upon him and his righteousness (Matt 6:33). God does bless us with tangible rewards here on earth but those things are not our goals because our time here is temporal. When we understand God's love for us and his purposes for our lives, we will learn to trust him and be contented in all circumstances (Phil 4:11-13). When we seek to obey him and to do his will, we will be able to experience the fullness of God's blessings...beyond the wealth, health and prosperity.
So dear friends, do not be discouraged when you face struggles of the flesh, Jesus knows our difficulties and will supply us with abundant grace to overcome (Heb 4:15, Heb 2:18) !
